S. Korean Labor Leaders Go to North

By Kyong-Hwa Seok, AP, Monday 11 December 2000 8:45 PM ET

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)—South Korea’s unification minister
flew to North Korea Tuesday for high-level
talks that Seoul officials said will set the tone for future relations
between the two former Cold War adversaries.

Park Jae-kyu, South Korea’s point man on North Korea, will meet
his counterpart, Chon Gum Jin, for four days for a fourth round of
talks since September. Previous talks were held alternately in the two
Korean capitals, Seoul and Pyongyang.

We plan to review the overall relations between the two sides and
discuss various matters of mutual concern, Park said before
departing.

Reuniting more of the millions of Koreans separated from family
members by the heavily armed border will be a key topic, South Korean
(news—web sites) officials said. Most have had no contact with
relatives for more than five decades.

The South Koreans also said they will try to set the date for a visit
to Seoul by North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. After accepting the Nobel
Peace Prize in Oslo on Sunday, South Korean President Kim Dae-jung
(news—web sites) said he expected Kim to visit Seoul in the
spring.

Thirty-four South Korean labor leaders also headed to North
Korea’s scenic Diamond Mountain for separate talks on holding
sports and other exchanges, officials said.

It is the second time this year that the South Korean government has
allowed such a visit, though the North has extended several
invitations over the years.

We will discuss ways to boost exchanges to help contribute to peace
and reconciliation on the Korean peninsula, said Lee Sang-yon, a
spokesman for the federation.

Relations between the communist North and capitalist South, divided
since 1945, have thawed considerably since June, when the South Korean
president traveled to Pyongyang for a historic summit between the two
leaders. They pledged to work toward peace and an eventual
reunification.

The two Koreans since have staged two reunions, arranging to let 200
people from each side meet for several days with relatives on the
other side. Both Koreas have agreed to hold at least one more reunion
but no date has been set.

South Korea wants to set up a permanent meeting place along the
border. North Korea has proposed an isolated tourist site in its
territory.

Also, the American Chamber of Commerce in (South) Korea said it has
delayed a planned trip to the North for investment talks. A ten-member
delegation flew to Beijing to enter North Korea on Saturday, but
returned to Seoul after failing to obtain visas.